Index means for sound translating



Sept. 29, 1942. B. A. PROCTOR INDEX MEANS FOR SOUND TRANSLATING Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l om n M J W 0 mm w W A 5 mum P 1942- v B. A. PROCTOR 2,296,871

INDEX MEANS FOR SOUND TRANSLATING Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H ATTO R N EYS Sept. 29, 1942. B. A. PROCTOR INDEX MEANS FOR SOUND TRANSLATING Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l NVE N TO R BarfonAPrac/ar ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1942- B. A. PRoc ToR INDEX MEANS FOR SOUND TRANSLATING Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR zfkzr/an/Jfmc/ur ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1942- B. A. PROCTOR 2,295,871

INDEX MEANS FOR SOUND TRANSL ATING Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Correcfion IN VE NTO R fiarlonAP/"acfar ATTO RNEY5 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 2,296,871 INDEX MEANS FOR SOUND TRANSLATING Barton A. Proctor, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to B. A. Proctor Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 23, 1940, Serial No. 331,125

. 15 Claims.

This invention relates to dictation machines and records.

An important object of the invention is to provide means in a dictation machine lacking a stylus available for visual comparison with the record, for guiding the operator with regard to the relative positions of the stylus and the record. Although of broader utility, the invention is illustratively disclosed herein as embodied in a dictation machine which includes the structure and features disclosed and claimed in a pending application of Ferdinand C. W. Thiede and myself, Serial No. 218,082, filed July 8, 1938, for Sound recording and reproducing, and in my pending applications, Serial No. 281,811, filed June 29, 1939, for Sound recording and reproducing; Serial No. 305,444, filed November 21, 1939, for Sound recording; and Serial No. 315,169, filed January 23, 1940, for Sound record and correction marker therefor, now Patent No. 2,261,284.

In the machines of the pending applications referred to, and also in the present illustrative machine, a thin, flexible. transparent, disc record is mounted upon a center spindle for rotation about the axis thereof, and provision is made for concurrently rotating the record and imparting translatory movement to the center spindle to cause the record to travel bodily at the same time that it is rotated with reference to a stylus having a normal position of record engagement which is substantially fixed. The stylus is unavailable for visual comparison with the record in these machines.

It is frequently important to establish a relationship of the record and the stylus for causing a particular portion of the record to be located in stylus-engaging position. The need for this may arise in a number of circumstances of which a few may be brieflyalluded to. The transcriber will regularly wish to hear those portions of the record containing directions for correction which are designated by correction marks as disclosed in Serial No. 315,169. In another case the dictator may have instructed that some recording of a designated record other than the first recording which appears thereon be rushed through. In still another case the dictator, after finishing the dictation of a letter, and proceeding with the subsequent dictation, may remember the need for correction or amplification of the supposedly finished letter. He may thereupon wish first to listen back to the letter, then to dictate directions for correction or amplification in the blank space which marks the end of the particular letter, and finally to return to a point following the last previous dictation for dictating the addition, if it is of some length, or for resuming the dictation of new matter. The above discussion assumes a machine adapted both for dictation and transcription, but the utility of the invention in a machine adapted for either service but not both is readily evident.

So long as the stylus itself is not available for visual comparison with the record, it is important that some other means be provided for guiding the operator in establishing a predetermined relation of the stylus and the record. The important point is to provide for setting the center spindle and the stylus at a distance from one another corresponding to the distance from the center spindle of the particular portion of the record which is of interest. In the machines hereinbefore referred to, as well as in the illustrative machine of this application, the record is fully exposed to view at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus. An index or pointer member disposed at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus and maintained constantly at the same distance from the center spindle as the stylus will always designate a point on the record just one-half of a turn away from the stylus-engaged portion of the record. In accordance with a practical and advantageous embodiment of theinvention, provision is made for maintaining an index member in the stated relation to the record, stylus and center spindle.

In the illustrative machine the stylus remains stationary and the center spindle is moved toward and from the stylus. The desired relationship of the index member to the center spindle requires, therefore, that the index member move always in the same direction as the center spindle, but just twice as fast. Such a relationship is advantageouslysecured by providing a carrying rack for the index member mounted to move radially of the record, one or more pinions in engagement with the rack and movable bodily in unison with the bodily movement of the center spindle, and a stationary rack parallel with the first and constantly in mesh with the pinion or pinions that move with the center spindle.

The arrangement referred to provides for an extensive movement of the index member, causing it to travel beyond a normal boundary of the machine frame. In accordance with afurther feature of the invention, a guard is provided to protect the index member in its extended travel. The guard is desirably settable either in a projected position or in a collapsed position. Means are provided, however, for assuring that the guard will be operated to, and maintained in, projected or guarding position so long as the machine is in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a scale cooperative with an index pointer for enabling the dictator to make intelligible notations for the use of the-transcriber and for enabling the transcriber to utilize such notations to advantage.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a view in sectional elevation, partly broken away, of a machine embodying the invention, the section being taken upon line of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a view in sectional elevation, partly broken away, of the machine of Fig. 1, the section being taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3, but showing the guard for an index device in projected position;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary view in sectional side elevation illustrating in part the control mechanism for the recording and reproducing units and for the record driving means;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a disc record in association with the index device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in end elevation showing the guard in its folded or collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the,

index device employed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine designed particularly to illustrate an index scale which is provided for reference purposes; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating the central portion of a disc record adapted for use with the machine.

As has been pointed out, the invention is useful in either a machine adapted only for dictation or in a machine adapted only for transcription,'or in a machine adapted both for dictation and transcription. The invention is diclosed herein as embodied in a machine of the last mentioned type, that is to say, a machine adapted to be used by the dictator for recording dictation and also to be used by the transcriber for transcribing dictation. The illustrated machine may be regarded as the machine of Serial No. 281,811 modified by the addition of mechanism as disclosed in Serial No. 305,444 for indicating the end of a letter, and the addition of mechanism as diclosed in Serial No. 315,169 for marking corrections upon a record. Since the utility of the invention does not depend upon the presence in the machine of the features of Serial No. 305,444 and Serial No. 315,169, the structure of the mechanisms peculiar to thoseapplications is not shown in detail herein and will not be described, but reference may be had to such applications for a disclosure of the complete machine.

The illustrative machine comprises a frame structure I which carrie a turtle-back support 2 upon which a thin, flexible, transparent disc record 3 may be mounted. The record 3 is impaled upon and interfltted with a center spindle 4, which spindle is mounted on a carriage 5 havcross bar 5c, Figures 1, 2, and 3. The record- 3 is driven rotatably by a fixed feed wheel 5 and a cooperative feed wheel I. The feed wheel 1 and its shaft 1b, Figure 2, are revolubly supported in a rocking frame 8, the frame 3 being rockably mounted upon a stationary shaft la. The frame 8 may be raised and lowered to carry the feed wheel I away from and toward the record 3.

A motor 6a, Figure 1, is connected through a bolt 6b, see Figure 2 also, to a pulley 6c fast on the drive shaft 6d of the feed wheel 8. A hub portion 62 of the pulley 6c is adapted to engage and drive a disc la fast on the shaft lb of the feed wheel I when the wheel I is in record-engaging position.

Rotation of the record is transmitted to the center spindle 4 and thence through spiral gears II and Ila to a feed screw l2 which is mounted in the carriage 5 and serves as the driving element for the carriage. The feed screw i2 is engageable with a half nut l3. The half nut 13 is carried by a rockable arm 'l3a and is immovable axially of the feed screw. Rotation of the feed screw causes the screw and its carriage to move in the direction of the axis of the screw andv to carry the center spindle 4 away from the point at which the feed wheels 6 and I engage the record. As a result of the compound motion imparted to the record, a stationary recording stylus opposed to a rotatable platen wheel 2| is caused to form a spiral groove in the face of the record 3, which groove progresses outward from the center as the sound track is scribed on the record by the stylus.

The disclosed machine comprises a recording unit I! which carries a recording stylus l8, and a separate reproducing unit l9 which includes a reproducing stylus 20.

The units l1 and [9 are mounted for rocking movement about a common horizontal axis 24, Figures 1 and 3a, which is carried at the upper end of a yoke 22, the yoke 22 being rockably mounted upon a horizontal shaft 23.

Suitable selector or control mechanism is provided for locating the recording stylus i8 in record-engaging position for recording, for substituting the reproducing stylus 20 in the identical position for reproducing, and for locating both styluses out of engagement with the record and concurrently arresting the record drive. These operations are performed by mechanism under the control of an operating finger piece 51 which is fast upon the forward end of a shaft 58, Figures 1 and 2. The finger piece may be operated to any one of three positions designated, respectively, as record, neutral" and reproduce. The shaft 58 has fixed to it a beveled pinion 6| which, through a meshing beveled pinion 62 fast on a cam shaft 63, serves to operate the cam shaft. The cam shaft has fast upon it a plurality of cams as fully shown and described in Serial No. 281,811. These cams, depending uponthe operation of the control member 51 and the cam shaft 63, cause the feed roller I to be placed in or out of engagement with the record 3, the styluses l8 and 20 to be alternatively engaged with the record or simultaneously disengaged, and the feed nut I! to be engaged with the feed screw l2 and disengaged from it at the will of the operator.

The pin 24 forms a common pivotal support for the rear ends of the recorder unit I! and the reproducer unit IS. A yoke 25 journaled on the pin 24 carries ,a vertical pivot pin 28 upon which the recorder unit I! is mounted with capacity for adjustment transversely of the record.

The cam shaft 63 has fast upon it four cams 64, 65, 65 and 61. Upon movement of the finger piece 51 from the "record" position to the "neutral" position the cam 85 comes into play, and by engagement with the tail member ID of the frame 8 servesto carry the feed roller I out of engagement with the record 3, so that the driving of the record is immediately interrupted. The cam 88 next engages the tail portion of a lifter lever 68,'which is rockably mounted upon a fulcrum 69. The cam 66 depresses the tail portion of the lever 58 and causes a forwardly extending portion of the lever at the opposite side of the fulcrum to be raised. The forward end of the lifter lever engages the under face of an arm 21 which is affixed' to the recording unit I1, and thereby lifts the recording stylus I8 off the record. At its upward limit of movement the forward end of the lifter lever also engages the under side of a portion 55 of an arm 54.

The arm 54 is aflixed to the forward end of an angle arm 53. The angle arm 53 at its forward end has the reproducer unit I9 fixedly mounted upon it. At the rear end the arm 53 is mounted upon a vertically disposed pivot pin 52 carried between the ears of a yoke 52a, the yoke being pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 24. When the forward end of the lifter lever 68 has attained its uppermost position, the parts are in neutral position and the record is stopped. The cam 64 has, in the meantime, been carried into engagement with the arm I 6 to rock the shaft I and the nut arm I3a in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

Thus in the neutral position the feed wheel I has left engagement with the record, both the recording and reproducing units are held up away from the record, and the feed nut I3 has been carried out of engagement with the feed screw I2.

If it is next desired to shift the parts to the position for-reproducing, the control or selector member 51 is operated .to the reproduce position. The cam 61 which has not up to now performed any function comes intoengagement with the pivot pin 24.

The cam 6'! pushes the pivot pin 24 to the rear, swinging the yoke 22 about the pivot 23 against the resistance of a return spring 22a, and causing the recording unit l1 and the reproducing unit I9 to be carried rearward. As a consequence of this movement, the stylus 20 is located over the record in the same vertical line previously occupied by the stylus I8. During this rearward movement, the lifter lever 68 engages the under face of the arm 21, and the under face of the portion 55 of the arm 54, so that both the recording unit I! and the reproducing unit I8 are maintained in elevated positions by the lifter lever.

Both the arms 21 and 54 extend across a stationary plate II' which has a notch or recess 12' formed in it. When the pivot pin 24 is in its forward'position, the portion 55 of the arm 54 is disposed in advance of the notch I2 in position to be held up by the portion I3 of the plate II in front of the notch, and the arm 21 is over the notch or recess I2. When the pivot pin 24 has been shifted to the rear as just described, as shown in Figure 3a, the arm portion 55 is carried over the notch I2 and the 'jacent the center spindle.

arm 21 is carried over the portion 14' of the plate II which lies to the rear of the notch I2. The cam 51 is formed with a dwell so that during the continued shifting of the control member 51 toward "reproduce" position the pivot pin 24 is held stationary.

Such continued movement, however, is effective to turn the cam out of engagement with the lifter lever 88, as shown in Fig. 3a, so that the reproducing unit is lowered to set the stylus 28 into engagement with the record, the recording unit I! being at the same time held in elevated position by engagement of the arm 2! with the portion I4 of the plate II. The cam 64 is carried downward by the cam shaft to a position permitting re-engagement of the half nut I3 with the 'feed screw I2. Finally, the cam 65 is carried to a position permitting the tail member I0 of the arm 8, which carries the feed wheel I, to be actuated by a return spring 10a so that the feed wheell is lowered against the record, and the normal driving of the record occurs.

It will be remembered that when the parts are in the "neutral position, the feed wheel I is out of engagement with the record 3, both ,styluses I8 and 20 are out of engagement with the record 3, and the feed nut I3 is out of engagement with the feed screw I2. At that time the operator may seize the center spindle and move it and the carriage to the right or left to shift a desired portion of the record into position for engagement by either the stylus I8 or the stylus 20. The purpose of the present invention'is to provide means for guiding the operator in thus setting the record with reference to the point of stylus engagement.

The styluses I8 and 28 and the adjacent portion of the record are covered and substantially concealed by a stationary portion ID of the machine casing, see Figure 2. It is not possible, therefore, to utilize either stylus for visual comparison with the record in establishing a desired relation.

At the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus, and in diametrical alignment with the stylus, the top of the record is flat and free from obstruction. The turtle-back support 2 is, moreover, provided with a slot II, Figures 1 and 2, for accommodating the travel of the center spindle 4. An index member may be conveniently arranged to operate in the slot II closely adjacent to the under side of the record, and since the record is transparent the index member may be readily observed through the record. 4

A supporting stud I2, Figures 1 and 2, is desirably threaded into the carriage 5 at a point ad- A hearing screw I3 is passed through-a slide 14 and a pinion I5, and threaded into the stud I2. The bearing screw I3 serves as a bearing for the pinion I5. The slide I4 carriesa second pinion I6 which is mounted on the slide by means of a bearing pin TI. The pinions l5 and 16, together with the slide I4, are carried toward the right or left in unison with the carriage 5. Both pinions mesh with a lower stationary rack I8 which is mounted in stationary brackets 19 and 80. Bars 8| and 82, onnected to a stationary frame member 83 are connected to one another at their ends remote from the frame member 83 by a bar or plate 84 and form guide rails upon which the carriage travels. The bracket I9 is mounted upon the bar or plate 84.,

sound track upon the record 3.

The bracket 80 is mounted upon the frame member 83.

Thepinions I5 and I8 also mesh with an upper movable rack bar 85. The slide 14 is formed with pairs of fingers 14a at its opposite ends for embracing both rack bars. An index device 86 is affixed to the upper rack bar 85. The index device comprises a. slotted member 81 which is adjustably secured to the rack bar 85 by means of a screw 88 which is passed through the slot 89, Figure 6, of the member 81 and threaded into the rack bar to clamp tl .e member 81 in a desired position of adjustment. The member 81 is also provided with two pointers 90 and 9I at a fixed distance from one another.

When the center spindle is at the right-hand limit of its range of movement as illustrated in Figure 2, the stylus 20 (or I8) is at the minimum distance from the center spindle and is at the appropriate distance to begin the scribing of a The pointer 90 is at the same distance from the center spindle as the stylus 20. As the center spindle progresses toward the left, increasing its distance from the stylus 20, the translatory movement of the center spindle carriage 5 is applied through the stationary rack bar 18 to produce a rotary motion of the pinions I5 and IS. The rotary motion of the pinions I5 and I6 serves to drive the upper rack bar 85 toward the left at twice the speed at which the center spindle 4 travels toward the left. It is evident, therefore, that the pointer 90 increases its distance from the center spindle by the same amount that the center spindle increases its distance from the stylus 20, or, in other words, that the pointer 90 and the stylus 20 will be constantly maintained equidistant from the axis of the center spindle.

This relationship will be constantly maintained as the center spindle is adjusted either toward or from the stylus 20 (or I8).

It is not necessary for the main frame or casing I of the machine to enclose the entire path of the index device 88, although it is desirable that a guard be provided for the index device in any extended travel that it may have beyond the left-hand end wall 92 of the casing to prevent injury to the rack bar 18 while projecting from the end of the machine. The end wall 92 is formed with an aperture 93 at its upper end through which the index device 81 and the rack bar 85 may operate.

A guard member 94 in the form of a hollow shell is connected through a hinge 95 to the end wall 92, Figures 1, 3 and 5. A spring 96 tends constantly to urge the guard 94 to the projected or guarding position illustrated in Figure 3. A toggle comprising links 91 and 98 pivoted, respectively, to the guard 94 and to a stationary bracket 99, serves to limit upward swinging of the guard 94 and to provide a rigid support for the guard in the projected position thereof. An ear I on the link 91 is adapted to overlie and engage the link 98 in the straight condition of the toggle, and to prevent operation of the toggle across the dead center or straight condition.

When it is desired to fold down the guard 94 against the side wall 92, the toggle is manually broken to collapse it, and the guard is manually forced down to the position illustrated in Figure 2 and there latched in place. A latch member IOI, pivotally mounted upon a yoke I 02, extends through an opening I03 in the side wall 92, and through an opening I04 in the base of the guard 94 to latch the guard down. A spring I05 is connected to the latch member m and to a tail p01"- tion III of one arm of the bracket I02 to urge the nose of the latch member MI in a downward direction.

In order that there may be no possibility, however, of the operator neglecting to raise ,the

guard, provision is made for unlatching the guard automatically as the index device 86 travel toward the wall 92. For this purpose the carriage 5 is provided with a projecting finger I01 for engaging a cam face I08 formed on the inner or tail portion of the latch member IOI. As the finger I01 travels toward the left, it rides on the cam surface I08 and beneath the bar 82. Depression of the tail portion of the latch member causes th nose of the latch to be raised, and thus permits the guard to spring outward to the projected position of Figure 3. After passing leftward from the cam surface I08 of the latch member I0 I the finger I0I travels upon a straight upper surface I09 of the latch member. When the center spindle 4 is next moved toward the right to a position like that of Figure 2, the finger I01 moves off of the latch member IOI and the tail of the latch is permitted to rise in response to contraction of the spring I05. Upward movement of the tail of the latch is limited, how-' ever, by engagement with the bottom end of the slot I03.

s has been mentioned, the index device 86 includes not only the pointer 90, but an additional pointer 9| at a fixed distance to the right of the pointer 90. As in the case of the machine of Serial No. 315,169, the present machine desirably includes a correction marking device which comprises a marking wheel III, Figures 2 and 4. The distance between the pointers 90 and 9I is the same as that between the marking wheel III and the stylu 20 (or I8). The marking wheel I I I, when indicating a correction, does not mark the actual portion of the record requiring correction, but marks a portion of the record located radially inward therefrom at a distance equal to the distance between the marking wheel III and the stylus I8. The pointer 9| is for the purpose of facilitating the setting of a portion of the record requiring correction in stylus-engaging position by reference to the mark which was made by the marking wheel I I I for indicating that correction.

From what has been said with reference to the relationship of the pointer 90 and the stylus, it is evident that the pointer 9I and the marking wheel III are equidistant from the axis of the center spindle in the initial or Figure 2 positions of the parts. As the center spindle recedes toward the left from the marking disc III, the pointer 9| recedes from the marking disc just twice as fast, and hence the axis of the center spindle remains equidistant from the marking disc III and the pointer 9I at all times. When pointer 9I is set in line with a correction mark, therefore, the pointer 90 points at that portion of the record requiring correction, and such portion is just one-half turn away from stylus-engaging position.

The use of the machine will be briefly described with reference to Figure 4. Here the record 3 i shown as including four correction marks H2, H3, H4 and H5, Figure 4, the first two of these being upon the inner, unscri'oed area IIG of the record disc. The record is also shown with three spaces II 1, H8 and H9 for indicating the ends of particular recordings such as letters. The correction mark II5 indicates that correction is required or that directions for correction are to be found in that portion of the record marked I20. The pointer 8| is shown as set opposite or directly beneath the correction mark H5. The pointer 90 points, therefore, at the portion of the scale I50I5I of 'the machine. Immediately surrounding the scale I54 is a circular colored zone I55 (red as illustrated) for the reception of record requiring correction, and this portion of therecord is not more than one-half turn away from position to enga e the stylus 20. The other correction marks H2, H3 and H4 are similarly used.

- position, the third recording on the record will be immediately reproduced so that there is no searching.

As thus far described, there is not ordinarily any actual necessity for the dictator to make any written notations other than to indicate on the central area of the record which of the recordings were dictated by him.

As a supplement or alternative to the procedure already described, provision is desirably made of means for facilitating the making of pencil notations indicating the identity of the dictator (or of the addressee), the positions of the ends of distinct recorded matters, and the positions of corrections or other parts of the recorded matter to which it is desired particularly to direct the attention of the transcriber. To these ends it is desirable that the machine be provided with a graduated scale and that the record itself be provided with a corresponding graduated scale for the recording of pencil notations.

The machine desirably includes a graduated scale I50, Fig. 7, formed on the turtleback support 2 alongside the slot II. This scale is continued beyond the boundary of the machine frame by providing a scale plate I5I-upon the retractible guard member 94. In the illustrated embodiment the scale would be eight inches long and would correspond to four hundred lines of recording, the line density on the record being one hundred lines per inch. The length of the scale is twice the length of travel of the center spindle 4, because the index pointer 90 travels twice as far as the center spindle.

In Figure 8 disclosure is made of the central portion of a disc record I52 which is particularly adapted for utilization in conjunction with the scale I50. This record desirably includes a central writing portion I53 which may take the form of a paper label pasted to the record disc or may be simply the central area of the record disc itself with printing applied. As illustrated, the central region of this writing area is printed with numbered lines so that by writing on the first line the name of the addressee of the first letter,

The pointer 90, on the t her hand, is used dion the second line the name of the addressee of the second letter and so on, each letter dictated will receive a numeral designation for reference purposes. The list of addressees constitutes a legend in explanation of notations made.

Surrounding the central writing area is a circular graduated scale I54 including division lines and numeral designations -to make the entire scale correspond for reference purposes with the corded matter.

pencil marks indicating corrections in the re- Around he circular zone I55 there extends a further c cular zone I55 which is either white or of a distinctive color from the zone I55, for the reception of pencil marks indicating the ends of letters or other individual recordings.

The use of the scale and the zones I55 and I56 is illustrated in Figure. 8. The check mark opposite scale graduation I0 in the red zone I55 in-' dicates that a correction occurs beginning in the tenth recorded line of the record. The check mark in the, white zone opposite scale graduation 20 with the numeral 1 alongside indicates that the first letter on the record, which was a letter to John Doe, runs from zero to the twentieth recorded line. Similarly, the check mark opposite 45 in the zone I55 indicates a correction at tator is required only to put a check in the zone- I55 opposite the point on scale I54 corresponding to the reading of the index pointer on the scale I50I5I at that instant. Beyond this the dictator is only required to fill in the names of the addressees on the central area as the dictation progresses, to check in the zone I56 the point of termination of each letter, and to write adjacent such check mark the number of the letter to which the check mark refers.

The use of this record with the machine by the transcriber is perfectly obvious and requires no further explanation.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent, is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, a center spindle for a disc record, a stylus for acting on the record, the stylus being unavailable for visual comparison with the record, means for relatively moving said center spindle and stylus toward and from one another along one radius,.an index member adapted for visual comparison directly with the record, a pair of operating members bearing fixed relation to the stylus and to the center spindle, respectively, and means operated by said members jointly as an incident of relative movement of the stylus and center spindle to cause the index member relatively to approach and recede from the center spindle in unison with the stylus, but along a different radius.

2. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 1 iii-which a secondary index member is provided in fixed relation to the first and substantially in radial alignment therewith.

3. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the indexmember is maintained substantially in alignment with the axis of the center spindle and the stylus, but at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus.

4. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, a center spindle for a disc record, a stylus for acting on the record in a substantially fixed record engaging position, the stylus being unavailable for visual observation to establish a desired relation of the record with the stylus, a spindle carriage for moving the spindle toward and from the stylus, an index member at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus and adapted for direct visual comparison with the record, and means operated by the spindle carriage for causing the index member and the stylus relatively to approach and recede from the center spindle simultaneously and at equal speeds.

5. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, a center spindle for a disc record, a stylus having a substantially fixed record engaging position, the stylus being unavailable for visual observation to establish a desired relation of the record with the stylus, a carriage for the center spindle movable to carry the center spindle toward and from the stylus, a stationary rack extending in the direction of travel of the carriage, a pinion mounted on the carriage in position to engage the stationary rack, a movable rack operable from the carriage through the pinion, and an index member carried by the second rack at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus and adapted for direct visual comparison with the record, the arrangement being such that the index member and the stylus are caused relatively to approach and recede from the center spindle at equal speeds but in opposite directions.

6. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 4, in which the machine comprises a casing which includes an end wall, said wall having an aperture through which the index member is operable, a guard for the index member adapted to project outward from said end wall, means foldably mounting said guard on the casing so that it can be folded against the end wall, and means for supporting the guard in projected position.

'7. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 4, in which the machine comprises a casing which includes an end wall, said wall having an aperture through which the index member is operable, a guard for the index member adapted to project outward from said end wall, means foldably mounting said guard on the casing so that it can be folded against the end wall, and collapsible means for supporting the guard in projected position. 1

8. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 4, in which the machine comprises a casing which includes an end wall, said wall having an aperture through which the index member is operable, a guard for the index member adapted to project outward from said end wall, means foldably mounting said guard on the casing so that it can be folded against the end wall, spring means acting on the guard and tending constantly to move it to projected position, and a latch for retainin the uard in folded position.

9. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 4, in which the machine comprises a casing which includes an end wall, said wall having an aperture through which the index member is operable, a guard for the index member adapted to project outward from said end wall, means foldably mounting said guard on the casing so that taining the guard in folded position, and means operated by thecarriage for releasing the latch as the carriage travels in a direction to project the index member through and beyond the aperture in the end wall.

10. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the index member travels along the under side of the record in close proximity thereto.

11. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the stylus has a fixed position of record engagement, a stationary turtle-back support is provided for the record, and means are provided for moving the center spindle bodily toward and from the stylus through a straight slot formed in the turtle-back support, and in which the index member is operated along the slot and adjacent to the under side of the record.

12. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, a center spindle for a disc record, a stylus for acting on the record in a substantially fixed record engaging position, said-stylus being unavailable for direct visual comparison with the record, a spindle carriage for moving the spindle toward and from the stylus, an index member at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus adapted for direct visual comparison with the record, a stationary graduated scale cooperative with the index member, and means operated by the spindle carriage for causing the index member and the stylus relatively to approach and recede from the center spindle simultaneously and at' equal speeds. 1

13. A dictation machine as set forth in claim 12 in which the index member travels outward beyond the normal bounds of the machine and a retractible guard is provided for protecting the index member in such extended travel, and in which a portion of the graduated scale is fixed upon the retractible guard.

14. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, a center spindle for a disc record, a stylus for acting on the record, means for moving the center spindle away from the stylus as the recording progresses, an index member at the opposite side of the center spindle from the stylus adapted for direct visual comparison with the record, means operating the index member toward and from the stylus at twice the rate of the center spindle, and a stationary graduated scale cooperative with the index member.

15. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, a center spindle for a disc record, a stylus for acting on the record, the stylus being unavailable for visual comparison with the record, means supporting the stylus in a fixed position of record engagement, means for moving the center spindle bodily toward and from the stylus along one radius, including a carriage for the center spindle, an index member adapted for visual comparison directly with the record, said machine further including a rotary member carried by the center spindle carriage, stationary means for converting translatory movement of the rotary member with the center spindle into rotary motion of the rotary member, and means driven by the rotary member for driving the index member toward and away from the center spindle along a second radius.

BARTON A. PROCTOR. 

